Jeffree Star Addresses Massive Backlash Over His New Death-Themed "Cremated" Collection

Kelsey Stiegman
·5 min read
Photo credit: Rosdiana Ciaravolo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Rosdiana Ciaravolo - Getty Images

From Seventeen

TRIGGER WARNING: References of de*th.

Over the past two months, the United States has lost almost 90,000 citizens to coronavirus, a pandemic that is ravaging the globe. Victims are being buried in mass graves, loved ones are forced to say their final goodbyes over video chat, and crematoriums are backed up due to the overwhelming amount of bodies. While all of this is happening, Jeffree Star has released a new death-themed makeup collection, called "Cremated," and people are understandably furious.

The controversial makeup mogul announced his latest collection on May 15, showing off gray-tinted hues with names like: "Hearse," "Angel of Death," "R.I.P.," "Pallbearer," "Death Certificate," "The Morgue," "Mausoleum," "Embalmed," "Eulogy," "Last Respects," "Obituary," and "Burial Gown."

To promote the collection, Jeffree himself dressed in black funeral garbs and posed with a crew of models in front of a candy pink hearse.

Immediately after the collection was announced, fans began bashing the Jeffree Star Cosmetics line. Commenters wrote that it was "tone deaf" to release a death-inspired beauty line during a time when millions of families are in mourning.

In response to the drama, Jeffree said: "people are bored and want to be offended by something new," adding that the collection has been in production since last September.

Some fans, however, noted that just because a collection exists, it doesn't necessarily have to be released. The "Cremated" launch could have easily been pushed back or cancelled all together, given the current climate.

Jeffree also commented on the controversy via Snapchat, but seemed unbothered.

"There's a lot of talk on Twitter. Now listen, Cremated and any palette I've ever created, it's my art. To me, it’s not just an eyeshadow palette. It’s way more than that. There’s always so many meanings with my art – and that’s what it is – it’s mine, I created it for the world, it is allowed to be interpreted any way that anyone wants to take it," he told viewers.

"But I always come from a good place and this palette is f*cking sickening. And on a real level, you guys, my own father was cremated, my two dogs that passed away last year were cremated, so nothing ever comes from a negative place in my life, so if you take it that way, that’s how you articulate things, but um, b*tch, not me!"

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